SAN JOSE, Calif. – Josh Barnett may be the best heavyweight in the world, but by virtue of fighting outside the UFC, he’ll remain unknown to a large swath of fans who think the promotion and sport of MMA are synonymous.

As well-known as he is in hardcore circles both stateside and abroad, you might say Barnett is the equivalent of the popular indie band that hasn’t sold out yet, or charted once only to fall out of favor with big labels.

“I’m the one that all the hipsters love,” he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I’m like, ‘Have you ever heard of Josh Barnett? Of course you haven’t. You’re not cool enough.'”

Barnett equates this level of recognition to the fact that he’s not just a fighter, but a metal aficionado, a sometime-race-car driver and a part-time actor. He bounces between these worlds between sessions on the mat. He’s not a constant presence on the MMA scene.

“I think what’s difficult is my appeal is not solely in MMA,” he said. “I’m sort of split amongst a lot of different genres, if you want to call it that. I’d say overall, I’ve got a lot stronger presence than a lot of MMA fighters.

“I walk into … all these different places that not only do people know my name, but I’m friends with a lot of major players and movers and shakers. I’ve never been one to put myself into one area, anyway.”

Most of his MMA fans would say there are other things in the way of a breakthrough, as well.

Still, Barnett has had to watch as fighters with less experience grab a big chunk of the spotlight in the UFC. He’s been hounded as to when he’s going to be a part of the show.

But if the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix is his audition for the industry-leader, as many have suggested of the tournament, he’s happy to stay just below the mainstream.

Prove himself? Not going to happen.

“I don’t audition for [expletive],” Barnett said. “I go out there, I destroy, and I raze the ground. I don’t need to go out there and show anybody anything.”

To be clear, Barnett (31-5 MMA, 2-0 SF) would sign with the UFC if he manages to beat Daniel Cormier (9-0 MMA, 6-0 SF) in the Showtime-televised Strikeforce world heavyweight-grand-prix finals, which take place Saturday at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and best a mystery opponent Strikeforce promises the winner of the tournament as the last heavyweight fight before the division is shuttered.

But this decision is where the fans come second. The deal, whatever it might be, has to make dollars and sense to Barnett, who’s been near the top of the heavyweight division longer than many UFC heavyweights have been in the sport.

Some hardcore fans say the winner of the grand prix should get an immediate title shot at the UFC heavyweight champion. That would be fine to Barnett, but he won’t just jump at the first offer. He certainly didn’t when he cut a new deal with Strikeforce parent company Zuffa when his contract with the promotion’s previous owners expired prior to the tournament’s finals.

“I think it will all work itself out,” he said. “I don’t worry about it. I know things are going to go good for me.”

Who knows how bright Barnett’s star would be today had he not been stripped of the UFC heavyweight title in 2002 after testing positive for steroids, or had he not run afoul of the California State Athletic Commission in 2009 after failing a pre-fight drug test, or had he stayed in the UFC’s good graces. He is back from these things now, a licensed fighter about to compete for a tournament title that’s of dubious value in the overall scheme of things, but nonetheless significant to his future.

For those who have hounded him about his past for endless years, he could make a big statement that he’s still one of the best in the business. Some would say he’s already done that. He hasn’t lost since dropping a decision to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at the end of 2006. He’s sliced through the competition since signing with Strikeforce in late 2010. And he’s a favorite to beat Cormier.

Just a slight favorite, however. One punch, and he could remain one of those what-if fighters who missed the sweet spot of potential and available opportunities.

Barnett has lost plenty of time. But perhaps surprisingly, he’s not trying to get it back. And he’s not advertising it for the powers-that-be.

“They’ve got the proof if they need it; they can just tune in and watch it themselves,” he said. “I do this for myself. I don’t do it for anyone.”

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